informalif something is yours for the asking, you can have it if you want it:

The job was hers for the asking.

WORD FOCUS: ask WORD FOCUS: ask requestto officially ask for somethingconsultto ask someone for advicedemandto ask for something very forcefullynag/pesterto keep asking for something many times, in an annoying waybeg/pleadto ask for something in an anxious or urgent way, because you want it very muchquestion/interrogateto ask someone questions - used especially about the police or the armygrillinformalto ask someone a lot of difficult questionscross-examineto ask someone questions in court - used about lawyerspollto ask a lot of people for their opinion about something

ask after somebody

phrasal verb

if you ask after someone, you want to know whether they are well, what they are doing etc:

I spoke to James today. He was asking after you.

ask for somebody

phrasal verb

if you ask for someone, you want to speak to them:

There's someone at the door asking for Dad.

WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE: say, tell, give, askYou use saywhen you are mentioning someone's exact words• 'Hello,' she said. • Someone said, 'Let's go!'Saycan be followed by 'that'• He said that he was tired. In speech people often leave out 'that'• They said there had been a mistake.Saycan be followed by 'something', 'anything', 'nothing', or 'so'• Did you say something? • Nobody dared to say anything. • You have to come - Dad said so.It can also be followed by 'goodbye' or 'hello'• I'll just go and say hello to David.Apart from these uses, sayis not normally followed by an object. For example, it cannot be followed by 'a story', 'a lie', 'some information', or 'an answer'. You tella story, a joke, a lie, or the truth• They told a funny story about their trip. You giveinformation, an order, an instruction, or an answer• He gave no reply.!! You do not say a question. You aska question• Can I ask a question?You can say something tosomeone• Has he said something to you?When talking about giving information, it is more usual to say that you tell someone something• Clare told us something interesting (NOT said us something...). • Can anyone tell me what time it is? (NOT say to me what...) You can tell someone about something• Did you tell Lucy about the party? (NOT say to Lucy about...)You cansay to dosomething, but it is more usual totell someone to dosomething• The teacher told us to open our books (NOT said us/said to us to...). ➔ See alsosay

Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Advanced Learner's Dictionary.